Priming tube



April 27, 1943. c. H. WALKER 2,317,653

PRIMING' TUBE Filed Ap ril 17 1941 INV CLAUD H WALKER ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED S'm'lg TENT OFFICE PRIMING TUBE Claud H. Walker, Portland, Greg. Application April17, 1941, Serial No. 389,037

5 Claims. (Cl. 18212) This invention relates to plumbing devices and more particularly to arrangements for maintaining water seals of drain traps.

Drainage systems in dwellings are usually provided with traps which, when filled with water, efiect a seal to prevent the escape of sewer gases into the building. If such drainage systems, as, for example, basement floor drains, are used only at infrequent intervals, the Water may evaporate from the trap and permit the passage of obnoxious sewer gases through the drain outlet creating an unsanitary condition. The water seals of the traps may be maintained by periodically pouring a small amount of water down the drains but this requires special effort on the part of the building occupants and is generall neglected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved arrangement whereby traps of infrequently used drainage systems are maintained in a watersealed condition Without requiring special attention on the part of the building occupants.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an auxiliary attachment for a more or less frequently used portion of the water supply system of the building whereby a small quantity of water'is periodically diverted from the supply for replenishing drain traps.

More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple arrangement which may readily be attached to a water closet whereby a small quantity of water is diverted from the flush tank each time the water closet is flushed and conveyed to a remote drain trap connected thereto.

In accordance with the present invention, a tubular member is provided which is adapted to be extended into the flush tank of a water closet and connected through a T-fitting to the Water supply conduit on the discharge side of the float controlled valve provided in the tank. Each time the water closet is flushed and the float controlled valve opened for refilling the tank a portion of the Water discharged from the source of supply is by-passed through the T-connection and into the tubular member from which the water is conveyed by a suitable conduit connection to a drain trap remote from the water closet. The tubular member is so designed that it serves also for mounting the flush tank onto the water closet.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and inventive the attention is directed to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. I is arear elevation of a water closet installation, the flush tank being shown in section so as to illustrate the arrangement of apparatus provided therein, including a priming tube constructed in accordance with one form of the instant invention; Fig. II is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating the priming tube in greater detail.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. I is shown a Water closet arrangement including a flush tank I which is adapted to be filled with fresh Water through pipe 2 connected to a source of supply. The upper end of the pipe 2 is provided with a suitable control valve, or ball cock, regulated by float 4, water being discharged into the interior of the flush tank through outlet 3. Ex-

tending from the discharge side of the control.

valve is an after-fill pipe 5 communicating with the bowl of the water closet for insuring proper sealing of the water closet trap following each flushing operation.

In accordance with the present invention a connection is made with the water supply piping within the flush tank on the discharge side of the float controlled valve and which connection extends exteriorly of the flush tank and communicates with a drain trap, such as for a basement floor drain, so that it is maintained filled by periodic replenishment.

As illustrated in the drawing a T-connection I is provided in the after-fillpipe 5 by means of which a portion of the water flowing through pipe 5 is diverted through the tube 6 into the tubular member 8 extending through the bottom Wall 9 of the flush tank I. While any suitable conduit arrangement may be provided for con ducting the water from the tube 6 through the wall of the flush tank I, it is preferred to provide such an arrangement as shown in Fig. I and in the enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. H. The

arrangement shown is particularly suitable in' the case of a flush tank mounted by means of through bolts onto the rear end of the water closet unit in that it does not require the drilling of any additional holes through the flush tank. The tubular member 8, in this instance, is adapted to be substituted for one of the flush tank mounting bolts and serves the dual function of securing the flush tank to the Water closet and also providing an inconspicuous conduit connection through the flush tank Wall and extending down along th rear end of the water closet.

The tubular member 8 is provided with a lower end portion of reduced diameter which is adapted to extend through one pair of aligned holes normally provided through the bottom wall of the flush tank and the rearward extension of the water closet rim III for receiving a bolt for mounting the tank upon the rear of the water closet unit. The tubular member 8 is provided with a flange l2 against the lower surface of which is placed a compressible gasket 43A adapted to engage with the upper surface of the bottom tank wall 9. The lower end portion of th tubular member 8 is threaded as indicated at l4 for receiving a clamping nut 15. A spacer member l3 of a suitable material is provided between the upper surface ll of the water closet and the lower surface It of the flush tank and a suitable washer 22 underneath the clamping nut 15. Upon tightening the nut It the compressible gasket 13A will effect a substantial seal about the opening through the lower tank wall 9.

An extension conduit i8, is suitably connected by nut Iii onto the lower end portion 14 of the tubular member 8 and communicates with a trap of any drainage system 2| which, for example, may be a basement floor drain. As shown in Fig. II the upper end of the pipe 18 may be provided with a packing gland 23 upon which the nut H3 is cooperatively threaded, a seal being effected by means of packing 24 provided within the upper end of the nut M.

It will be seen that the priming tube of the present invention may readily be substituted for one of the usual flush tank mounting bolts, thus eliminating the necessity for providing a special opening through the flush tank wall while at the same time adequately securing the flush tank to the water closet. 7

While I have described the present invention with particular reference to one preferred embodiment thereof it will readily be understood that the invention may be carried out in other ways and that the specific details as shown are 'merely illustrative.

I claim:

1. In combination with a water closet including a flush tank, a ball cook provided with an after-fill tube in said tank for controlling the water supply to the closet, a T-connection in said after-fill tube, a second tube in connection with said fitting, a conduit section disposed to receive water discharged through said second tube, said conduit section being secured in water tight relation through the bottom of said tank and a portion of the water closet bowl, and a second conduit section leading downwardly to a floor drain trap in order that said trap may be replenished at intervals with water upon operation of said ball cook.

2. In combination with a Water closet including a flush tank, a water supply pipe extending into said tank, a ball cock in said pipe for regulating discharge of water into said tank, a tubu lar connection with said water supply pipe on the discharge side of said ball cock extending through a wall of said tank and conduit means connected to said tubular connection on the outside of said tank extending to a drain trap remote from said water closet whereby said drain trap may be replenished with water upon periodic operation of said ball cock.

3. In combination with a Water closet including a flush tank, a water supply pipe extending into said tank, a ball cock in said pipe within said tank for regulating periodic discharge of water into said tank, a tubular connection with said water supply pipe on the discharge side of said ball cock, said tubular connection extending through a lower wall portion of said tank in a fluid tight relation therewith and through a portion of said water closet, and conduit means connected to the end of said tubular connection and extending to a drain trap remote from said water closet whereby said drain trap may be replenished with water upon periodic operation of said ball cock.

4. In combination with a water closet including a. flush tank mounted on the rear end portion thereof, a water sup-ply pipe extending into said tank, valve means in said pipe within said tank for regulating periodic discharge of water into said tank, a tubular member extending through the bottom wall of said tank and through a rear end portion of said water closet, means on said tubular member for clamping said tank to said water closet, a branch conduit communicating between said water supply pipe on the discharge side of said valve means and the upper end of said tubular member, and conduit means for conducting water from said tubular member to a remote drain trap.

5. A priming tube for use with a water closet having a flush tank mounted on the rear end thereof, said tube being adapted to extend through aligned holes in the bottom of said tank and a rear rim portion of said water closet,

means on said tube for clamping said tank onto said water closet and for sealing said tube in a water tight reiation in said hole in said tank, conduit means for conducting water into the upper end of said tube each time said tank is refilled, and conduit means for conducting water 1far-om the lower end of said tube to a remote drain rap.

CLAUD H. WALKER. 

